MINUTES
City Council Meeting
City of Butler, Pennsylvania
February 27, 2014
Mayor Donaldson called the meeting to order at 7:00PM. Mayor Donaldson and Council members Scott, Kline, Schontz and May were present. The pledge of allegiance to the flag followed an invocation given by Reverend James W. Dollhopf, FirstEnglishLutheranChurch.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Council held a public hearing concerning the Centre City Tax Increment Financing District. There were no comments from the public concerning the TIF Plan.
PERSONS TO BE HEARD:
Mark Krenitsky – concerns about sidewalks and asking for enforcement of code.
- Suzie Bradrick – concerns about drilling in/on/or under Memorial Park.
- Barry Cummings – concerns about Marcellus Shale drilling in Memorial Park.
- Heidi Friel – concerns about leasing ButlerMemorial Park for drilling.
- Amy Keys – concerns about Marcellus Shale drilling at Memorial Park.
- Karen Pletsch –concerns about gas drilling under Memorial Park.
- Nancy Neel – presented council with information about Marcellus Shale drilling.
PRESENTATIONS:
Dunbar Center: Heather Dovenspike presented the plans for the 2014 summer program and asked council to support a grant application.
Neighborhood Pride Awards
- Johnstone Supply – 140 Hollywood Drive
(Ken Raybuck, on behalf of the CDC, received the award for Johnstone Supply.)
Motion by CM Schontz with second from CW Scott to approve the minutes of the Organizational meeting of January 6, 2014 & Regular meeting of January 23, 2014 & Special joint meeting of February 4, 2014.
MONTHLY & ANNUAL DEPARTMENT REPORTS
(Note: Department Reports Distributed to Council at Tuesday’s Forum Meeting for Review)
All department reports for the month of January were approved by individual, unanimous votes.
COUNCIL REPORTS/ACTIONS
Councilwoman Scott
1. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1686; an ordinance of the City of Butler amending Chapter 60 of the Codified Ordinances; Personnel Policies; Article VIII; Insurance and Pension Benefits; Section 802; Policies. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
2. Motion to approve a payment in the amount of $193,133.75 to Wells Fargo Bank for debt service for the City’s 2005 general obligation bonds. (Note: This payment includes principal of $155,000.00 and interest of $38,133.75; due March 1st.) Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
3. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1687; an ordinance of the City of Butler adopting and authorizing participation in a Tax Increment Financing Plan presented by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Butler, and authorizing related agreements. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
4. Motion for the introduction and first reading of City Ordinance No. 1688; an ordinance of the City of Butler authorizing the incurring of lease rental indebtedness by the guaranty of the debt service on a note of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Butler in a principal amount of two million and 00/100 dollars; covenanting to pay, and pledging unlimited taxing power for the repayment of the note under the guaranty; authorizing filings of required documents with the DCED; ratifying actions of officers and redirecting actions; and making other covenants in respect of the guaranty. Second by CM Schontz. All voted aye.
5. Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2014-02-27; a resolution to revise the 2010 and 2011 CDBG programs as follows:
2010 – Reduce the Clearance line item by $9,188 and reallocating the same amount to the Parks, Recreation Facilities line item.
2011 – Reduce the Public Facilities line item by $10,000 and the Rehab: Publicly/Privately Owned line item by $23,434 and reallocate $33,434 to the Public Facilities – Other – Infrastructure line item. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
6. Motion to approve a proposal submitted by Caruso & Caruso, PC, Certified Public Accountants for monthly auditing services for Fiscal Year 2014 as outlined in their engagement letter of February 20, 2014 and to authorize the City Clerk to sign said letter on behalf of City Council. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
Councilwoman Kline
7. Motion to promote Hoseman Richard J. Walters, Jr. to the rank of Driver within the Bureau of Fire. Second by CM Schontz. All voted aye.
Councilman Schontz
8. Motion for the second reading and adoption of City Ordinance No. 1685; an ordinance of the City of Butler, Pennsylvania amending the City’s traffic control schedule contained in Chapter 245 of the Codified Ordinance of the City of Butler by making permanent experimental regulations previously adopted by City Council on a 90-day trial basis. Second by CW Scott. All voted aye.
9. Based on recommendation from his chain of command and satisfactory completion of his probationary period, motion to grant permanent employment status as of February 8, 2014 to Wayne Geibel. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
10. Motion to install a “No Parking This Side” sign on the west side of Walsh Street between Shore Street and Taft Street on a 90-day trial basis. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
11. Motion to install a “No Parking from November 1 – April 1” sign at the far north side of College Street. Second by Mayor Donaldson. All voted aye.
Councilman May
12. Motion to authorize and direct the City Clerk to make application for a grant for the “Out of School Time Program” funds available through the NRPA for the purpose of obtaining funds to operate the Summer Park Program through the DunbarCommunity Center. Second by CM Schontz. All voted aye.
13. Motion to accept resignation of Beth Gillan from the Shade Tree Commission effective February 10, 2014. Second by CW Kline. All voted aye.
14. Motion to approve City Resolution No. 2014-02-27A; the City of Butler agrees to comply with the requirements of the Butler County Parks Renovation Program for the purpose of obtaining grant funds for the renovation of FatherMarinaroPark. Second by CW Scott. All voted aye.
15. Motion to enter into a lease agreement with the Butler County Bears, LLC, (in cooperation with the Butler Area Midget Football League) to lease the football field, together with the parking lots adjacent thereto, situated in Memorial Park for the period commencing March 4, 2014 through August 23, 2014. Second by CM Schontz. All voted aye.
Spray Park Feasibility Study public meeting to be held on March 18, 2014 at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers.
Mayor Donaldson
Appointments:
Shade Tree Commission
- Diane Christie to replace Jill Kraus, whose term ends June, 2014.
- Lorrie Downey to replace Jonathan Dreher, whose term ends June, 2015.
- Diane Bowman to replace Beth Gillan, whose term ends June, 2016.
The City Treasurer presented Council with the Account Balance Report and the Monthly Intake Report for January, 2014.
In the absence of the City Controller, the City Clerk presented bills for payment as follows: from the general fund – $524,337.26; from the capital projects fund – $10,749.51; and, from the liquid fuels tax fund – $65,189.85 for a grand total of $600,276.62. Motion by Mayor Donaldson with second from CW Kline to approve payment of bills as presented. All voted aye.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
WISR City Hall – Mayor Donaldson
MS4:
As part of an ongoing education plan, we would like to remind local residents to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for salting driveways and sidewalks. If too much salt is applied, it will runoff into the storm sewer system and impact our local waterways. Please keep the de-icing materials away from landscaping and keep it isolated to the walkway or driveway. Also, if you change the fluids in your automobile, please recycle the used oil and other automotive fluids at participating service stations. Do not dump these chemicals down the storm drains or dispose of them in the trash. If you want to temporarily store any of these chemicals on your property, just make sure that they are in sealed containers that will not rust or leak and try to keep them in a dry place.
CM Schontz reminded residents to make certain their homes have their house numbers clearly displayed.
Mayor Donaldson adjourned the meeting at 7:55 PM.
